Late April Report

Snake River

Flows are increasing due to snowmelt and the early stages of runoff which is increasing turbidity but water temps are hitting 50 to 52 degrees, which is primetime for skwalas.  Tiny winter stones and midges are also around.  The Snake has around two and a half feet of visibility but clears around 10:30am and goes back into increasing turbity around 3:30pm.  Expect this window to tighten as runoff intensifies over the next week. 

Skwalas are out and most prominent on the mid-valley reaches from Moose to South Park.  Dry-dropper rigs are working in side channels, eddies, and the head of riffles primarily.  Provide some movement to your patterns but don’t over do it.

Streamers are working on all reaches but you have to work for your fish.  Expect a fair amount of chases, follows, and eats, but also expect some hookups.  Both dark and bright streamers are producing as long as they are moderately sized.  Go with sinking tips in the INT to 6ips range and vary up your retrieval speeds.  Letting your patterns sink before you initial retrieve can be a useful tactic.

South Fork

Flows from Palisades Reservoir stand at approximately 12,500cfs.  Water temps are peaking at 40 degrees and is crystal clear on the upper reach in Swan Valley.  Temps are 44 degrees on the lower reach in the vicinity of Lorenzo with around four feet of visibility from mid-canyon down to the confluence with the Henry’s Fork.  There are midges everywhere but also BWOs below Wolf Eddy down to Lorenzo.  Nymphs are working everywhere with troughs and the inside current margin of riffles being prime targets.  Fish your nymph rigs near the middle of the water column and err on the deeper side if production wanes or isn’t happening at mid-water column depths.

Streamers have been most productive on the lower reaches from Byington down to Menaan with troughs, drop-offs running parallel to main currents, and side channels with minimal currents being the most productive water to fish.  Moderately sized patterns are outperforming larger counterparts.  Go with floating lines or sinking tips in the INT to 6ip range.  Slow, steady retrieves are the name of the game.

Henry’s Fork

Flows from Island Park stand at 750cfs..   A number of tributaries are coming in off-color with increasing turbidity on the main river, particularly below Warm River.  Nonetheless, caddis are popping and the surface action has been decent and subsurface with nymphs has been good.  The most consistent action with both is occurring along banks with overhanging vegetation, submerged structure, eddies, and the head of seams.  BWOs are also around on cooler, wetter days.  They offer good surface action in riffles and the entire length of seams. 

Streamer fishing is kind of hit-or-miss but has been most consistent below Ashton.  Go with moderately sized baitfish imitations and fish them